Second Year Success Series
The Second Year Experience through University College encourages students to identify and pursue academic opportunities that deepen intellectual interests, enrich the curricular experience, and build and support individualized goals and career plans.
Programs by Outcome
By the end of the Second Year Experience, students will be able to:
- Apply foundational knowledge through participation in activities, such as peer collaboration, creation of e-portfolios, mentored research, and/or service learning.
- Apply and develop proficiency in evidence-based success strategies, like time management, self-reflection, critical thinking, career exploration, effective communication, and financial and information literacies, to complete academic tasks and foster ongoing personal growth.
- Demonstrate intentional and effective self-advocacy skills, including the use of University College resources and support services, to advance academic progress towards timely degree completion.
Ways to complete the outcomes can be found by expanding each section below.
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Program Outcome One
Schedule an Internships 101 appointment at the Career Center for an overview on how to find, apply to, and register an internship for credit.
Connect with a peer mentor for individual or discipline-specific development or serve as a peer mentor to hone interpersonal skills.
Library Research Fellows: If you are a Music Research follow, conduct in-depth independent research on a topic of your choosing over three semesters. If you are a Research Startup fellow, begin independent research and create a personalized research plan further connecting you to campus resources while being mentored by a faculty librarian in a peer learning community.
Complete Cornerstone Stage Courses in the Gateway Program, including your First-Year Seminar (FYEX 100), Introductory Writing (IW) Course, Oral Communication (OC) Course, and Quantitative Literacy (QL) Course.
Create/refine your professional resume/CV, Handshake profile, and LinkedIn profile.
Engage in experiential learning opportunities.
Engage with your discipline-specific professional organizations.
Explore and participate in service opportunities on campus and in the community.
Become a Fellow at the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) to engage with voter registration, research on civic engagement, study trips, and a community of practice with state and local leaders.
Join a research project, emphasizing community-engaged action research with a faculty mentor and a community partner, at the Center for Public Research (CPR).
For students in the University Honors College, in addition to the options listed above, ways to complete this outcome include:
Attend the 2nd Year Overview.
Attend the Thesis Workshop (Fall or Spring).
Identify your research topic and select your thesis advisor.
Attend one or more of the Library Thesis Workshops and review the research modules.
Attend the Paul Beideman Mentorship Initiative event.
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Program Outcome Two
OLS Workshops and Certificates provide students with opportunities to enhance executive functioning skills and obtain deeper knowledge, recognized through two optional certificates, in Critical Thinking and/or Tutoring.
ARC Resources: Learn about and access the resources that support your academic success.
Writing Center Tools and Resources to assist students in developing their skills as writers through quality peer mentoring in all fields of study, at all levels, and at any phase of the writing process.
Use the “Ask a Librarian” Service: Librarians can help with developing research topics as well as searching for, accessing, evaluating, and citing sources.
Book an appointment with your Subject Librarian: Set up an appointment to get to know your subject librarian and/or book an in-depth research consultation for your project or paper.
Use library-provided resources like videos and tutorials to independently expand your knowledge of information literacy.
Attend professionalism workshops and student employment series or complete a LinkedIn Learning pathway. Build the career skills that employers want.
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Program Outcome Three
For students in good academic standing, ways to complete this outcome include:
Meet with a Success Coach – at least once a semester.
Meet with your Faculty Advisor – at least twice a semester.
Attend Start Smart and Finish Strong events.
For Exploratory Studies students, declare a major by 45 credits.
Consider a minor or a Gateway Gen Ed Certificate.
Attend the University’s job & internship fair or a department-sponsored career fair.
For students working to return to good academic standing, ways to complete this outcome include:
Meet with a Success Coach – at least once a semester, reassess academic plan, establish a network of support, utilize University College resources.
Meet with your Faculty Advisor – at least twice per semester, maximize course selection, understand academic policies and satisfactory academic standing.
Attend Start Smart and Finish Strong events.
For Exploratory Studies students, declare a major by 45 credits.
Consider a minor or a Gateway Gen Ed certificate.
Attend the University’s job & internship fair or a department-sponsored career fair.